The tablet is a modest success, and it appears Google will stick with Nexus.

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The next Nexus 7 may increase the resolution of its display to 1080p and maintain the relationship between Asus and Google, according to a report from Digitimes. The follow-up has been rumored for some time, but now Digitimes suggests Google will tweak the device with updates while maintaining the starting $199 price.

Google scarcely promoted the Nexus 7’s IPS display, which was an impressive 7-inch 1280×800 and rivaled the screen of the Kindle Fire HD. If Google preserves the aspect ratio of the Nexus 7 in its follow-up, the new display would be 1728×1080; if it conforms to a standard HD display, 1920×1080. Digitimes also suggests Google and Asus may slim down the bezel surrounding the screen, which might allow an aspect ratio change.

Reports on sales of the first Nexus 7 have been rare outside of the ballpark figures from Asus CEO David Cheng suggesting Google had sold about three million units in the four months following its launch. Digitimes indicates Nexus 7 sales have remained steady and that six million units will have shipped by the end of January. Reports on the success of the Nexus 10, or a successor to it, have also been scarce.

Release dates for the new tablet were not forthcoming. Since the first Nexus 7 debuted at Google I/O in July of last year, we’d say it’s safe to expect its successor at the same event this year starting on May 15.

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Casey Johnston
Casey Johnston is the former Culture Editor at Ars Technica, and now does the occasional freelance story. She graduated from Columbia University with a degree in Applied Physics. Twitter@caseyjohnston

85 Reader Comments

I hope they include a rear camera this time. Without a rear camera to take high res pictures it's not going to dent the education market like the iPad or iPad Mini are right now. Mainly because of that camera feature.

I read that term a lot when it comes to Nexus devices. I've seen ads for Nexus on TV. I've seen ads in magazines liked Wired. There were ads for it *on the front of Google, the top 3 most visited page on the planet*. Every tech blog or general new site review article (NYT, etc) mentions the Nexus.

I'm really not sure how that qualifies as scarcely promoted.

I have no issue with the devices at all, I have a Galaxy Nexus, but it doesn't deserve to be painted as some sort of underdog.

I think they mean that they scarcely promoted the display resolution, which is true. The display on the Nexus 7 is excellent but the specs were never mentioned in the commercials.

I'm not sure why promoting the specs would help. Its virtually identical to the other 7" devices in its price class that were released near the same time. Specs only help if they demonstrate superiority to the competition. Furthermore, until a couple months ago the FireHD offered more storage at the same price.

I agree that its a fantastic device, but not nearly as easy to buy in my experience as a kindle or nook. Several times went all over town looking for one and while every store I visited had loads of nooks and fires, they either didn't have any Nexus 7s or were sold out and didn't even offer the lower end version.

This is so true. It's odd that a device that saw a reasonable amount of promotion on prime time television can't be found anywhere but 2nd tier electronics retailers and Google's website. I bought mine at a Gamestop of all places. My other alternative was Office Depot. Neither one of those places are at the top of anyone's list when they think about making a purchase like that.

I hope they include a rear camera this time. Without a rear camera to take high res pictures it's not going to dent the education market like the iPad or iPad Mini are right now. Mainly because of that camera feature.

I don't follow the logic there. Why is a *rear* facing camera important to the education market?

I really prefer the 10" form factor. I have a Motorolla Xoom that works just fine, so I don't need to replace it. Add an SD Card slot and get the price down to $300, and I'll buy a Nexus 10 in a heart-beat.

I'm pretty excited about this actually. The Nexus 7's screen is very good, and basically as good as you could ever want for almost everything. However, pixelation is still noticable when you're reading (serif font, black text, white(ish) background). Presumably they're not going to change the price point, so the only question is if they can keep battery life the same. With a year of improvements in shrinking components, reducing power requirements and improving batteries, it seems reasonable that they could.

It would also be completely unsurprising, since the Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 both have ~300 dpi screens already.

I agree that the Nexus 7 is a nice piece of hardware. But its basically equivalent to the FireHD,.

Play with each of them for a few minutes and you'll see that they are certainly NOT equivalent. If you just want to read and watch TV shows, Kindle Fire is aimed straight at you. Google provides a decent ecosystem in terms of content access for the Nexus 7 but it's not 100% ABOUT that ecosystem. It's more of a general use device built to mesh with Google's service ecosystem. If you use Gmail, Google Calendar, etc... then Google Now on the Nexus really makes the device a cut above the other tablets on the market. I've got an iPhone and I'll take Google Now over her any day of the week.

I hope they include a rear camera this time. Without a rear camera to take high res pictures it's not going to dent the education market like the iPad or iPad Mini are right now. Mainly because of that camera feature.

I hope they never include one and instead spend the money of other features that I will actually use.

I hope they include a rear camera this time. Without a rear camera to take high res pictures it's not going to dent the education market like the iPad or iPad Mini are right now. Mainly because of that camera feature.

I don't follow the logic there. Why is a *rear* facing camera important to the education market?

Because then students could take pictures of their written notes for instance and send them to Evernote. Can't really do that with the current Nexus 7. This is just one example.

I hope they include a rear camera this time. Without a rear camera to take high res pictures it's not going to dent the education market like the iPad or iPad Mini are right now. Mainly because of that camera feature.

I hope they never include one and instead spend the money of other features that I will actually use.

What are those features you are looking for? I was being selfish about how a students could use the less expensive Nexus 7 instead of an iPad Mini.

I hope they include a rear camera this time. Without a rear camera to take high res pictures it's not going to dent the education market like the iPad or iPad Mini are right now. Mainly because of that camera feature.

I don't follow the logic there. Why is a *rear* facing camera important to the education market?

Because then students could take pictures of their written notes for instance and send them to Evernote. Can't really do that with the current Nexus 7. This is just one example.

I hope they include a rear camera this time. Without a rear camera to take high res pictures it's not going to dent the education market like the iPad or iPad Mini are right now. Mainly because of that camera feature.

I hope they never include one and instead spend the money of other features that I will actually use.

What are those features you are looking for? I was being selfish about how a students could use the less expensive Nexus 7 instead of an iPad Mini.

For me, longer battery life would be at the top of the list, and even a microSD slot would be preferable to a rear camera.

I hope they include a rear camera this time. Without a rear camera to take high res pictures it's not going to dent the education market like the iPad or iPad Mini are right now. Mainly because of that camera feature.

[citation needed]

--edit

It's my experience (The company I work for has a couple of universities as customers, so I don't speak COMPLETELY uninformed) that the iDevice education market is driven primarily by apps and the higher education markets calling them 'required' or 'portable required, iDevice recommended'.

I haven't read the entire thread, but just want to say to those complaining about the lack of microSD slots on the Nexus phones/tablets that there is good reason for it. I can't quote you numbers to back it up if I said that SD/microSD slots are the single greatest cause of malfunctions in phones/tablets so that's just a hunch, but it's certainly a big one. And we are not necessarily talking obvious catastropic failures here (like cola in the SD slot, baby cramming food there or similar), but insidious nasty periodic errors that cause soft reboots, data errors and the like - and very hard to track down as the cause unless you know exactly what to look for in the logs (and how to get the logs for most people).

I'm not saying I don't see the advantages to SD/expansion slots, but don't be too quick to want them. Personally I'll happily pay a premium for the stability I've experienced since getting Nexus devices. And 32GB certainly meet my needs atm - and I'd dare say most people's. The trick is to stream media (music and video in particular) and not clutter up the device with it. There are plenty of devices that offer the SD card option - leave me some that don't.

I read that term a lot when it comes to Nexus devices. I've seen ads for Nexus on TV. I've seen ads in magazines liked Wired. There were ads for it *on the front of Google, the top 3 most visited page on the planet*. Every tech blog or general new site review article (NYT, etc) mentions the Nexus.

I'm really not sure how that qualifies as scarcely promoted.

I have no issue with the devices at all, I have a Galaxy Nexus, but it doesn't deserve to be painted as some sort of underdog.

Did you read

Of course I read, how else would I be reading from a news site like this?

sphigel wrote:

any of the other words surrounding "Google scarcely promoted" or are those the only words in the article you read? If you simply read 4 more words you would understand that your statement is completely unfounded.

I agree that the Nexus 7 is a nice piece of hardware. But its basically equivalent to the FireHD,.

Play with each of them for a few minutes and you'll see that they are certainly NOT equivalent. If you just want to read and watch TV shows, Kindle Fire is aimed straight at you. Google provides a decent ecosystem in terms of content access for the Nexus 7 but it's not 100% ABOUT that ecosystem. It's more of a general use device built to mesh with Google's service ecosystem. If you use Gmail, Google Calendar, etc... then Google Now on the Nexus really makes the device a cut above the other tablets on the market. I've got an iPhone and I'll take Google Now over her any day of the week.

I've worked extensively with both devices. Quite frankly tablets at that size are not general computers. They are content consumption and light web browsing devices. The FireHD does a better job of that, IMO. Based on sales, the market seems to agree..

I've worked extensively with both devices. Quite frankly tablets at that size are not general computers. They are content consumption and light web browsing devices. The FireHD does a better job of that, IMO. Based on sales, the market seems to agree..

My experience is exactly the opposite. Content consumption on the Nexus is superior because I can consume from Google, Amazon, B&N, etc. I'm not locked into an ecosystem and I can shop around for better prices. Also, the Nexus is a far more useful general computer than the FireHD, largely because of the availability of Google services like email, Google Now, Maps, etc. The market is often wrong, as it clearly is in this case.

I own the current model and the pixel density is just about perfect. The only thing that would make sense is to bump it to 7.7" and increase the resolution to 1080p. The main issue will be striking a balance between battery life and the new size/weight and specs.

For those people wondering about the strange resolutions, the screen on the Nexus reserves 40 pixels to display the Back and Home buttons, which rotate along with the screen. So the current aspect ratio is 16:10 - 40 pixels. A 1080p 16:10 version would be about 1920 x 1150 (horizontally).

Nonsense...

Those 80 pixels are to allow the top and bottom status bar and buttons to not encroach on a 720 video.Also the 16:10 version of 1280*720 is 1280*800 - both a size and resolution of panel already manufactured.

The same would be done with 1920*1080 for the same reasons, making it 1920*1200 with 60 pixel borders - same size at a higher pixel density. It has a name too, WUXGA.

1920*1150 is not the 16:10 version of 1920*1080... that's just basic maths!That aspect ratio would be approx 1.66596521739:1, this just isn't done by any sensible manufacturer. No one makes a panel of that resolution so it would have to be custom made and couldn't be labeled FullHD.

Who cares what Google intends to produce if they can't even properly sell their current tablets. Here in germany the Nexus 10 is sold out in the google store for over 3 months (so basically it never was widely available at all). And it's not that there is such a huge demand for it, Google just doesn't manage to actually produce/deliver a meaningful number of devices.

I've worked extensively with both devices. Quite frankly tablets at that size are not general computers. They are content consumption and light web browsing devices. The FireHD does a better job of that, IMO. Based on sales, the market seems to agree..

My experience is exactly the opposite. Content consumption on the Nexus is superior because I can consume from Google, Amazon, B&N, etc. I'm not locked into an ecosystem and I can shop around for better prices. Also, the Nexus is a far more useful general computer than the FireHD, largely because of the availability of Google services like email, Google Now, Maps, etc. The market is often wrong, as it clearly is in this case.

Google does not integrate very well with the world's largest online retailer and its services. That is a *huge* miss. The Fire cannot integrate with the world's largest appstore. That is a major, but not huge miss. Aside from Google's specific refusal to permit Google Play on the Fire, every other service you listed there runs just fine on a FireHD(I have the Nook app on mine for instance).

"The market is wrong" is what people often claim when they refuse to acknowledge that thier own personal use case is not the majority use case.

I hope they include a rear camera this time. Without a rear camera to take high res pictures it's not going to dent the education market like the iPad or iPad Mini are right now. Mainly because of that camera feature.

I don't follow the logic there. Why is a *rear* facing camera important to the education market?

Because then students could take pictures of their written notes for instance and send them to Evernote. Can't really do that with the current Nexus 7. This is just one example.

Use your phone instead. You most likely have one.

I agree, but in my school, middle school students aren't allowed to use their cellphones during the school day.

I hope they include a rear camera this time. Without a rear camera to take high res pictures it's not going to dent the education market like the iPad or iPad Mini are right now. Mainly because of that camera feature.

I hope they never include one and instead spend the money of other features that I will actually use.

What are those features you are looking for? I was being selfish about how a students could use the less expensive Nexus 7 instead of an iPad Mini.

For me, longer battery life would be at the top of the list, and even a microSD slot would be preferable to a rear camera.

Maybe it's just me, but doesn't 1728x1080 seem kind of odd? I mean, 1920x1200 makes more sense, especially so it can actually display 1080p content. Kind of like how 720p content works on the Nexus 7 now, otherwise the Nexus 7 would have been 1152x720.

I hope they include a rear camera this time. Without a rear camera to take high res pictures it's not going to dent the education market like the iPad or iPad Mini are right now. Mainly because of that camera feature.

I hope they never include one and instead spend the money of other features that I will actually use.

What are those features you are looking for? I was being selfish about how a students could use the less expensive Nexus 7 instead of an iPad Mini.

More storage, nicer screen, bigger battery, more QA on the manufacturing lines. Hell, the possible places you can insert even $5-10 is almost endless (especially on such a low margin device), and can end up giving a much nicer feel without being a specification tick mark. Not to mention the camera's existance is a huge part of the design process, and you can design a different device without needing to take into considering something popping out of the back of the device, or taking up space built into the device.

It's in all minds superior all around tablet right now. Though sadly, this won't convince a single bit of hard headed sheep and their $1k pads. If they want this tablet to really sell, it better have microsd at the minimum, Bluetooth 4.0 and twice the battery capacity from 4k mAh.

I do love my Nexus and use it all the time, not sure I want a higher resolution screen if it means any less battery life, though.

Plus more strain on hardware along with battery life. The retina iPad found that out. Much of the hardware improvements were cancelled out with the higher resolution plus Apple had to invent a way to increase battery capacity and still retain the same life. Or nearly the same. At that small of screen I am not sure such high resolution is going to make that much of a difference.

It's in all minds superior all around tablet right now. Though sadly, this won't convince a single bit of hard headed sheep and their $1k pads. If they want this tablet to really sell, it better have microsd at the minimum, Bluetooth 4.0 and twice the battery capacity from 4k mAh.

The iSheep as people call them will always accept Apple as better in every way. Although many probably have never even tried a Nexus 7 or any other tablet. They are married to Apple is every way through Apple's walled garden of apps and lack of outside that wall compatibility limits them to branch out and even consider other devices. I know I was trapped in that walled garden for 15 years and it has taken three years to ween myself from being entrenched in Apple's eco system. If your really happy with what Apple offers you. Then its the best eco system for you. Its like what AOL was for internet. Some people don't mind being spoon fed what they need. Google's eco system is a alter ego of Apple's. Tending to let it grow.

Come on guts/gals they just to build up anticipation for the next upgraded Nexus 7/Nexus 10.. It makes more sense if you increase demand for your products by teasing the audience every few months. After all, we wouldn't the product to lose its lust by launch time..

Isn't everyone complaint the yellow screen and wash-out colors in N7?It is very prominent when compare with my ipad3 side by side. But I decided to accept its lower quality display due to its cheap price...hehe...

Isn't everyone complaint the yellow screen and wash-out colors in N7?It is very prominent when compare with my ipad3 side by side. But I decided to accept its lower quality display due to its cheap price...hehe...

Maybe you have one of the faulty N7s that got a lot of complaints...IDK, but my N7 screen doesn't have a yellow tint and the colors look fine. But then again I realize that no product is perfect and can't be bothered to care about side by side comparisons to competing hardware at nearly double (or more) the price.

While they're at it how about they add an SD/MicroSD slot this time! Paying stupid high premiums for flash upgrades is one of the most aggravating things about the tablet market. On my phone a 32GB MicroSD card was $18 delivered but upgrading the Nexus 7 from 16 to 32GB costs $100, why?!?

Agreed. What I'd like to understand more is the mentality of the people who downvoted this...

I have to admit. I wasn't a believer in Android until I got my hands on a nexus 7. It hasn't changed my opinion of most Android devices. (bad launchers/skins, and carrier crap-ware). However as long as Google keeps their nexus line of devices I will continue to purchase them.

I hope they include a rear camera this time. Without a rear camera to take high res pictures it's not going to dent the education market like the iPad or iPad Mini are right now. Mainly because of that camera feature.

I don't follow the logic there. Why is a *rear* facing camera important to the education market?

Because then students could take pictures of their written notes for instance and send them to Evernote. Can't really do that with the current Nexus 7. This is just one example.

As opposed to just writing them directly into the Evernote that's running on the tablet? I'm still not seeing the logic.